serving the faith communities of the Goulburn Valley
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Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a programme of education and formation for the ministry of pastoral care. The programme’s methodology utilises the action reflection model of learning. A part-time Unit of CPE will be conducted in Wangaratta in second semester 2016, from 4 July to 22 November. The course will be conducted under the auspices of the Austin Health CPE Centre and sponsored by Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW).
The Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders (2016) outlines religious leaders and faith communities positive judgement of the adopted Paris Agreement and urges for its prompt signature and ratification by governments so that it can come into force as soon as possible. It also insists that there is a significant increase in the current levels of ambition relating to emission reductions, financial flows, adaptation, loss and damage and a swift phase out of fossil fuel subsidies - so as to keep temperatures within reach of 1.5C.
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Hands for Nepal will hold a "Cup of Tea for Nepal this coming Sunday, 23 April 2016. Hands for Nepal tell, "You have helped a lot in making a difference in Nepal and this afternoon is to show you where you money raised has gone to, to hear more about what is happening in Nepal today - with visiting guests from Nepal sharing also, share in an afternoon of a short documentary film, afternoon tea, play the caramboard, see an exhibition, and share together. Join us at the African House at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Poplar Road, Shepparton.
The Jewish holiday of Passover starts Friday, April 22. That's confusing to those who usually get their spring breaks bracketed by the holidays of Passover and Easter. After all, they're connected in the Christian story - it was Passover that Jesus was celebrating when he had his last supper with his disciples. So why is the holiday a month after Easter this year?
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The Sikh Holiday of Vaisakhi falls on Wednesday 14 April 2016. Also frequently spelled Baisakhi, Vaisakhi has origins as a springtime festival in the Punjab region, but since 1699 has taken on a great deal of religious significance for Sikhs. On Vaisakhi in that year, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa and established much of what is at the core of the Sikh faith today. ... Read more...
St Mary’s Parish Mooroopna will tackle a hidden issue in the community, the experienced effects of drug addiction, in particular, the effects of the drug ICE in the Community. An evening examining social issues and solutions will take place at St Marys School, Mooroopna, on evening of Tuesday, 19 April.
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On Tuesday 29 March 2016, Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence tabled its findings with a 1900 page report which includes 227 recommendations. The report includes a ten-page section on ‘Faith Communities’, highlighting the important role faith-based communities and organisations can play in the lives of Victorians affected by family violence. … Read more…
Meditational classical Indian music can be heard and learned at Shepparton’s Gurduara Sahib Sikh temple as three visitors from Punjab demonstrate their skills.
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Voices for Harmony and the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District conducted a community roundtable discussion on Harmony Day, Monday 21 March 2016. The focus taken was the annual observance of International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination. … Read more…
This time of Easter is the major festival of the Christian religion. It is also the Purim festival of the Jewish faith. This time of this year also marks several festivals from other religions and we give account of these festivals and greetings to religious communities of the Goulburn Valley at this festival time.
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The Bendigo Interfaith Council participated in the Bendigo Festival of Cultures, 2016, and had a guest speaker address the gathering on the topic of ‘The Challenge of Compassion in the Global Age”. Guests from all over North East Victoria attended the function, including several from Shepparton. One guest from the Shepparton Interfaith Network provides some impressions.
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The Challenge of Compassion and the Global Age was the topic of guest speaker Prof. Des Cahill, Chair of Religions for Peace Australia, at the Bendigo Interfaith Council inaugual dinner on Friday, 18 March. The Dinner was organised as part of the Bendigo Festival of Cultures. … Read more…
The Ballarat Interfaith Network in collaboration with Islamic Society of Ballarat will conduct an open day at the Ballarat Mosque and Interfaith Dialogue, Come to common terms.
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Since announcing its arrival as a global force in June 2014 with the declaration of a caliphate on territory captured in Iraq and Syria, the jihadist group Islamic State has shocked the world with its brutality. Here, The Conversation, has prepared a series of articles on understanding IS. ... Read more...
Converge on Shepparton is an event taking place on Saturday 19 March 2016. This is part of the Shepparton Festival. Converge on Shepparton will commence with a Walk for Reconciliation – a walk from Queens Gardens to Victoria Park Lake and opening the festival with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony. … Read more…
In observance of National Closing the Gap Day, we bring you an academic thesis on Yorta Yorta, a place where the gap was not closed: upon the loss of the Yorta Yorta Native Title claim in the High Court, the Yorta Yorta community (alongside environmental advocacy organisations) worked to lobby for the establishment of a jointly managed National Park. … Read more…
Goulburn Valley Spirituality in the Pub will host an evening with Rev Joan Fisher, retired Uniting Church Minister who recently spent three months in Palestine. The event will take place at the Terminus Hotel, Shepparton on Monday 29th February 2016 from 7.30 – 9.00pm
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I have been an active member of Multi-Faith Student Council at the University of Minnesota for two years now. I have been fortunate to learn so much about other people and their faith. I am no expert on interfaith dialogues but did pick up some things along the way. The beginning can be awkward because you don’t want to ask dumb questions or seem ignorant. The truth is, there is no such thing as a dumb question.
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All people are seeking peace – for one reason or another. Peace in how we relate one to another, peace between adherents of religions, peace between nations, Peace on Earth. These fervent desires, wishes and aspirations rise in every heart. As Gandhi told, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. In this message we bring prayers for peace from the scriptures of many of the world’s spiritual paths and faith traditions.
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Public Health England last week launched a new resource for healthcare professionals and service providers giving guidance about spiritual needs at the end of life. Faith at the End of Life, which focuses on the UK’s six largest religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, promotes a public health approach to death, dying and bereavement, highlighting the importance of community in maintaining and promoting the wellbeing of people who are dying, caring or bereaved.
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